The founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church Apostle Dr John Okoriko has charged leaders of Ibiaku Ward 1 in Mkpat Enin local government area to assist government in tackling the wave of insecurity prevailing in rural areas to attract government development projects in line with the A-R-I-S-E agenda of Governor Umo Eno on rural development.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by ward leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ibiaku Ward 1, Okoriko said government can not embark on any project in rural communities where there is no security.
Okoriko recalled that Eno had promised to build a Model Palm Oil Mill in Ibekwe Akpanya when he visited the community during his 75th birthday anniversary but pleaded with ward leaders to check violent crimes such as kidnapping, robbery and cultism to enable the government to make good her promises.
He assured the people that though Governor Eno pledged to build the Palm Oil Mill in his church he could not claim ownership of the Mill as his property since the project is too big for one person.
Okoriko explained that everybody in the community will benefit from the project when it comes on board.
” I grew up in this community and witnessed how we play in the moonlight at night from this village and return early morning without any fear or molestation by anybody.
” I also remember when I used to ride my bicycle from 3 am in this village to Ifiayong in Uruan local government area to attend classes during my days in the Bible College in Uruan without any harassment on the road.
” We only heard of armed robbery incidents elsewhere but not in our communities.
” Insecurity can not allow people to stay in their villages anymore. But Governor Eno has made a pronouncement that all local government chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Councillors and other council staff should live in their council areas. I will also relocate to my village in Ibekwe, Mkpat Enin.
” I put before you this issue of insecurity as ward leaders beginning from the Village Heads and his council members because you know everybody who lives in your villages.
“If you don’t allow strangers in your communities, there will be no development. You will eat your farm crops alone but when there are strangers, they will help you to buy your farm crops. If there are no strangers and investors, there will be no development in rural communities ”
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Okoriko pleaded with the ward leaders to check their communities to prevent insecurity at the grassroots as Eno is ready to develop rural areas in his A-R-I-S-E agenda.
He therefore charged the ward leaders to get ready to embrace development projects by Governo Umo Eno to Mkpat rural communities by accepting it as their investment from which everyone will benefit.
Responding, the PDP political leader of Ibiaku Ward 1 in Mkpat Enin local government area Hon Anietie Sunday said the stakeholders decided to visit Apostle Okoriko and appreciate him for bringing the governor pastor Umo Eno to the ward during his 75th birthday ceremony last October.
The political leader also appreciated Eno for the appointment of Special Assistants across all the wards in the state as such appointment has drawn the government closer to the people.
He listed challenges of the community as a lack of road network to connect other villages, and epileptic electricity supply as he appreciated Umo Eno for his plan to site Model Oil Palm Mill in the area.
The political leaders vowed to protect all government projects sited in their area while the woman leader Obonganwan Arit Boniface promised to mobilize women to support the governor in all his development plans for the rural dwellers.
The woman leader presented women uniform to the wife of Apostle John Okoriko Evangelist Eka John Okoriko who promised to identify herself in all women’s activities and provide motherly advice when it is necessary.
The ward chairman Hon Toby promised to cooperate with Governor Umo Eno and Apostle Okoriko to drive development to the area.
” It was through Apostle Okoriko that the governor visited our ward for the first time in history. We won’t take such honour for granted.”
Others who joined the stakeholders during the courtesy visit to Okoriko include the member of Mkpat Enin local government Transition Committee Hon Sylvia Anthony, Village Head of Ibekwe Akpannya, Chief Boniface Ekanem, Secretary General of Solid Rock Kingdom Church Dr Linus Ukoenag, Bible Lesson Superintendent of Solid Rock Kingdom Church pastor Michael Udoh, wards leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibiaku ward 1, youth representatives among others.
